‘Speck, leave it,’ Lexie said. ‘Tegs doesn’t need to know the permutations of what might have happened if she’d let Debbie go for Byron.’

‘Sorry,’ he mumbled.

I squeezed his arm. ‘You can tell me later.’

Taylor smiled. ‘It’s not all bad. I just won sixty-five thousand pounds.’ His eyes gleamed. ‘Gambling’s not such a terrible thing after all.’

I gaped at him. ‘But I lost.’

His smile grew. ‘I didn’t bet on you.’

Lexie punched him. ‘You gambled away my money on Byron Moncrieffe instead of Tegs? You prick!’

‘I won though! Byron won! I was right to do it.’

‘So much for honour amongst thieves,’ she grumbled.

I tried not to laugh. It might have been overwrought hysteria or it might have been genuine amusement ‒ at this stage it was difficult to tell.

The lights in the auditorium dimmed and we took our seats. As befitted the runner-up, I was directed to the front. I could see Lexie and Taylor beaming as they were moved to the front of the audience with Speck and Brochan right behind. They weren’t skulking in the back row now and that was satisfying. We hadn’t achieved what we’d set out to but I’d reap the rewards from these Games for some time to come. I had sacrificed my chance of winning to save Byron from Debbie’s arachnid stomach. I promised myself that I wouldn’t be a sore loser. I was better than that.

I smoothed down the new improved Clan Adair tartan and reminded myself to maintain a proud posture. And I was proud. I might be a Clan of one – with some bloody decent friends behind me – but I’d beaten the others against all the odds. I was worthy. I had no idea how I would win back my father’s lands but there was always tomorrow. I would always be optimistic. What else was there?

The league board had been moved onto the stage for the prize giving. My name glittered near the top, with Byron’s right above it and a single point separating the pair of us. Byron strode up and took the winner’s seat next to me; it was several inches higher than mine. I couldn’t help noticing that he took considerable pains not to touch me but I tried not to let it bother me.

‘Congratulations,’ I said.